Tumbler for bucket elevators.



PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.

I J.H.GRAY. TUMBLER' FOR BUCKET ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10. 1905.

Fla)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. GRAY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

TUIVIBLER FOR BUCKET ELEVATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 5, 1906,

Application filed August 10,1905. Serial No. 278,515.

To (ti/Z whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. GRAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTumblers for Bucket Elevators, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to tumblers for bucket elevators, and is ofespecial value for elevators used in dredges, the object of theinvention being to provide a tumbler in which the parts exposed to wearcan be very readily removed and substituted by new parts, thus greatlylessening the expense of maintenance of the tumbler.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction by meansof which the connections of such removable parts with the main bodyshall not be required to stand the strain of the chain upon the tumbler.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of theupper portion of a bucket elevator, showing the upper tumbler in sideelevation. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the tumbler detached, one ofthe wearing-plates being removed. Fig. 3 is a similar view of thewearing-plate detached. Fig. 4 is a central cross-section of thetumbler.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the upper shaft of a bucketelevator, having thereon a gear-wheel 2, by which it is driven, saidshaft revolving in suitable bearings in the frame of the elevator.Formed in one piece with said shaft is the body of the tumbler 3, whichhas four equal and symmetrical sides arranged at right angles to eachother. The forward portion of each side is raised to form a shoulder 45, and against said shoulder rests a removable wearing-plate 6, which issecured to the main body of the tumbler by means of screws 7, of whichthere are here shown eight. Said plate contains two raised inclinedwearing-surfaces 8, against which the links 9, connecting the buckets10, contact in the rotary movement of the tumbler and upon which at theouter sides of said raised surfaces are formed guiding ears or plates11, preferably rounded at the top, on the inner side of which the linkspass over said raised wearing-surfaces 8. The upper edges of said cars11 slope upward rearwardly, thereby assisting in replacing-the linksupon the surfaces 8 should there be a tendency for said links to movelaterally outward. Said wearing-plates 6 are guided and held in place bymeans of longitudinal grooves 12 13, formed, respectively, in the bodyof the tumbler and in the under side of the plate, and steel feathers orkeys 14 are inserted in said grooves when brought into registry witheach other. These keys, together with the shoulders 5, transmit thestrains from the body of the tumbler to the links and remove them fromthe screws 7. The plates 6 are made thicker at their rear sides tocompensate for the greater wear which they undergo at that point. Whenone or more of the wearing-plates are found to be worn so much that thetumbler does not take hold of the chain and impart movement thereto,instead of removing the whole tumbler, as heretofore, the defectiveplates alone may be removed and substituted by new ones, thus greatlyreducing the expense.

One of the greatest troubles experienced in operating dredges withbucket elevators is the tumbler becoming loose upon its shaft. By thepresent construction this is avoided, because the body of the tumbler isformed in one piece with the shaft, the whole being made from a singlebloom, which is drawn out and hammered and then turned to form thetrunnions or bearings. It is in conjunction with this construction thatthe removable plates are used, for it is by reason of the plates beingremovable that it is permissible to make the tumbler-body and the shaftin a single integral piece at much less expense.

I claim- 1. In a bucket-elevator tumbler, the combination, with the mainbody of the tumbler, of wearing-plates provided with guides for thebucket-links and connections between said plates and tumbler, saidtumbler being provided with means for removing the strains thereon fromthe connections, substantially as described.

2. In a bucket-elevator tumbler, the combination of the main body of thetumbler having the forward portions of its sides raised to formabutments or shoulders, plates engaging said shoulders, and means forsecuring said plates to said tumbler, substantially as described.

3. In a bucket-elevator tumbler, the combination with the main body ofthe tumbler having the forward portions of its sides raised to formshoulders or abutments, plates resting against said abutments and havingguides ralsed from said plates, and extending transversely to the axisof the tumbler, and means for securing the plates to the body of thetumbler, substantially as described.

4. In a bucket-elevator tumbler, the combination of the body of thetumbler, wearingplates on the sides of the tumbler, one of the faces ofeach plate and the tumbler in contact with each other having alongitudinal groove, and a feather or key in said groove preventingforward or rearward movement of the plate upon the tumbler-body, andmeans for securing the plates to the tumbler, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a bucket-elevator tumbler, the combination of the body of thetumbler having the forward portions of its sides raised to formshoulders or abutments, plates resting upon said sides behind saidabutments, one of the faces in contact with each plate and the tumblerbeing formed with a longitudinal groove, a key or feather in said groovepreventing forward or rearward movement of the plate upon the face, andmeans for holding the plates to the tumbler, substantially as described.

6. In a bucket-elevator tumbler, the combination of a tumbler-bodyhaving polygonal faces and trunnions or bearings at the sides or ends ofthe body, said trunnions or bearings being formed all in one piece withthe body, and removable wearing-plates upon the faces of the body, saidplates being provided with suitable guides for the bucketlinks,substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

- JAMES H GRAY. Witnesses:

EDITH WooDwARD, BESSIE GORFINKEL.

